7 There was an estate nearby (how coincidentally convenient) that belonged to Publius (a Roman name), the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him (at his own initiative) and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came (of their own volition and presumably in faith towards the God Paul worshipped) and were cured. 10 They honoured us in many ways (in gratitude and respect) and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed (food, clothing, money[?]. We should compare Lk 9:1-6 [the apostles were sent out without money and any extras]; 10:1-12 [the 70 were sent out without money or any extras]; 1Tim 5:17,18 'the labourer is worthy of his wages'; and 1Cor 9:6-16 which all speak of material assistance to those who preach the true Gospel).

1Cor 9:6-16 Is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? (others were being supported? If so, is it because there was not a centralised control?) 7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? (Why should the apostle put it this way?) Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? (Why is tithing not mentioned in these various expressions of the principle: "A labourer must be paid for his work." [see Jas 5:4; Lev 19:13]) Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? (Most Australian, American, English farmers do not drink the milk of their sheep or goats. I say this as an example of the distancing even farmers experience between nature and society's requirements). 8 Do I say these things merely as a man? (i.e., as a matter of personal opinion?) Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain (Dt 25:4)." Is it oxen God is concerned about? (Yes, but there is a greater principle, a parable that teaches the Christian!) 10 Or does He say this for our sakes? It is for our sakes, no doubt, that this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope (If a farmer knows that his ploughing is useless, that the coming season will be a severe drought, will he plough?) and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope (The farmer threshes the grain in the knowledge that the grain heads are well-laden with seed, that he will have sufficient, and that he may get a good price for surplus). 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we (Paul and Barnabas) not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right (Why would an apostle not take the rights due to him by law?), but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things (the priesthood in the OT) eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the Gospel should live from the Gospel. (So the conclusion a Christian has to come to, it seems, is that material support is given when the Christian really believes that those saying they preach the Gospel are really preaching the Gospel and shepherding the sheep for the LORD of the House of God).15 But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. 16 For if I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the Gospel! (Yes, even for nothing [2Cor 12:11-19)].

PAUL ARRIVES IN ROME (vv11-16)
11 After three months (Nov/Dec-Jan/Feb? in perhaps 60AD as the New Jerusalem Bible notations indicate. Experience has shown me that Catholic scholars seem to be, generally, less biased in historical details than others) we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered at the island. It was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods, Castor and Pollux (patrons of navigation and of the constellation Gemini; twin sons of Zeus). 12 We put in at Syracuse (S.W. Sicily; founded by Corinth in 734BC) and stayed there three days. 13 From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium (on the eastern toe of Italy [Reggio di Calabria], opposite Messina on the western side of Sicily). The next day the south wind came up (a strong and very helpful wind), and on the following day (perhaps in record time) we reached Puteoli (Pozzuoli in the Bay of Naples; then a major port for the Alexandrian wheat-ships). 14 There we found some brothers (fellow brethren) who invited us to spend a week with them (Again favour would have been granted from the centurion. And how interesting that we keep finding brethren scattered in all these places). And so we came to Rome (i.e., these were the kinds of amazing circumstances by which God brought His apostle to Rome). 15 The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they travelled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us (about 40km south of Rome; a long walk - about the length of the marathon). At the sight of these men Paul thanked God and was encouraged (How remarkable that so often we find the brethren meeting with the most heartfelt expressions of solidarity (e.g., Acts 20:35-38 where the mutual warmth of the NT ministry is manifested; Rom 16 with numerous greetings; 1Cor 16:19-20 'greetings and kisses'; 2Cor 13:11,12 'greetings and kisses'; Phil 4:14-23 'sharing, warmth, dedication, and greetings'. Sacrifices of time and effort among true Christians are abundant [Jn 13:34,35]). 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him (More favour is given to Paul so that he can do what God wants him to do).

THE GOSPEL IN ROME (vv17-31)
17 Three days later (after settling in and spending time with local brethren?) he called together the leaders of the Jews (He is quick off the mark to preach the Gospel). When they had assembled, Paul said to them: "My brothers, although I have done nothing against our (Jewish) people or against the customs of our ancestors (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, etc) I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar - not that I had any charge to bring against my own people (Paul was accused falsely, but he did not seek vengeance, nor did he counter accuse. Paul's statements, however, make it quite clear that these people were liars, full of hatred, murderers at heart, and from a Christian perspective, agents of Satan (see Matt 15:1-9; 22:15-18,23,29; 23:1-39; Jn 7:45-52; 8:13-19,37-59). We need to differentiate between accusation and necessary statement of what is true). 20 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel (Acts 26:6-7; 24:13-16; 23:6-9; 2:25-28; Col 1:3-6) that I am bound with this chain (apparently a loose chain held him to the soldier)." (The hope of Israel includes the Coming of the Messiah, the true Gospel, the Resurrection). 21 They replied, "We have not received any letters from Judaea concerning you, and none of the brothers who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect." (So those who were the product of the true Gospel were held in disrepute in society. That's easy to confuse with those who are radicals, fanatics, kooks, oddballs).

Notice what Scripture says of this:

Lk 6:26 Woe to you when all men (society in general) speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets. (False prophets and false apostles seem to be readily accepted as also the history of the disintegration of churches reveals. On the other hand, those who speak of the kind of Christianity that must live by every Word of God, and needs the power of the Holy Spirit to become perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect, are held in derision and contempt. Most forms of Christianity do not require the Power of God, therefore do not require Faith, so it is far easier to live by one's own resources according to dogma, man-made traditions, rituals, humanly devised deeds - all so more appealing to the unspiritual mind. Each of us knows whether we are living by the Power of God or by our own means [Jn 8:44; 7:18; 5:41,43,44]).

23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the Kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets (e.g., Gen 3:15; 49:24; Num 24:17; Dt 18:15-19; 32:43; Pss 2 & 22;. Is 52:13-56:1; Mal 3:1). 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. (Why do people refuse to listen? Why are some afraid to consider, read, study material that contradicts their dearly held opinions? Some churches discourage reading anything other than their own literature. Some small groups read so many different views that they become confused about what the Scriptures say). 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when "he said" through Isaiah the prophet (this is an insert by the NIV translators. There is no pronoun here referring to the Spirit. The Greek reads literally: "But how well the Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet Isaiah to the fathers"): 26 "Go to this people and say, 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.

27 For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes (Do any of us refuse to study certain things? What are we afraid of studying? What are we afraid of doing that God says we must do?) Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' (Is 6:9-10,11-13; Matt 13:13-16; Mk 4:11,12; Lk 8:10; Jn 12:37-41).

Matt 13:13-16 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.' 16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear."

1Pet 2:20-25 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 "Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth"; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (i.e., your real guide is the Son of God).

28:28-31 Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!" (v29 is not in the better manuscripts) 30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 Boldly and without hindrance he preached the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

PAUL'S FINAL YEARS
From The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Editor: F. L. Cross; 1993; p 1047):

"Acts ends with the statement that Paul remained in captivity in Rome for two years. For the remainder of his life we depend on material to be gleaned from the Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Tim.; Titus; possibly Philemon) and tradition. According to Clement of Rome (possibly the same man as in Phil 4:3. If so, then he became a heretic in Paul's eyes and is also included in the papal lineage), writing about 30 years after his death (Ep. 1.5), he went to the 'limits of the Occident' .... , a statement which ..... would give point to his own assertion (Rom. 15.24 and 28) that after visiting Rome he proposed to go on to Spain; and several of the Fathers (e.g. Cyril of Jerusalem, Epiphanius, Chrysostom, and Jerome) accept the tradition of his visit to Spain. If the Pastoral Epistles are genuine (a statement so typical of the mighty and wise of this world), they were presumably written after his return from Spain. They would imply that he visited Ephesus, Macedonia, and Greece, and was finally once more arrested, perhaps in Troas (cf. 2Tim 4.13). According to tradition, he was martyred at Rome in the Neronian persecution (according to Eusebius, in A.D. 67)."

Rom 15:17-33 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done - 19 by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum (Yugoslavia and Albania), I have fully proclaimed the Gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the Gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand." (Notice how Paul cites and explains the second part of v15 in Isa 52. See Isa 52:7-15).
22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions (i.e., Corinth and nearby), and since I have been longing for many years to see you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while (It seems that the problem of support in Corinth does not exist in Rome). 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ. 30 I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit (better: and through the Spirit of Love), to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, 32 so that by God's Will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

"In AD 58, Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, Ac 21:27-23:22, and imprisoned at Caesarea Palestinae until AD 60, Ac 23:23-26:32. In the autumn of AD 60, Festus the procurator sent him to Rome under escort, Ac 27:1-28:16 where he lived for two years, AD 61-3, Ac 28:30. There our certain knowledge of Paul's life ends. Ancient tradition, relying to some extent on the Pastoral letters, teaches that after two years his case was dismissed for lack of evidence, and Paul travelled again in the East, though he may well have made his projected (Rm 15:24,28) visit to Spain. Tradition holds that a subsequent imprisonment in Rome ended in martyrdom, in AD 67" (p 1850).

"Paul displayed the prize of endurance; seven times in bonds, driven into exile, stoned, appearing as a herald in both the East (parts of the Roman Empire) and the West (parts of the Roman Empire, as some say, as far as Spain, or even Britain) he won noble fame for his faith; he taught righteousness to the whole (Roman) world, and after reaching the limits of the West bore witness before the rulers (of the Empire). Then he passed from the world and went to the holy place, having shown himself the greatest pattern of endurance" (A New Eusebius, edited by J. Stevenson; SPCK; 1960; p 4).

In a second-century document called the Muratorian Canon we find: "Luke, to the most excellent Theophilus, includes events because they were done in his presence, as he also plainly shows by leaving out the passion of Peter, and also the departure of Paul from the City (i.e., Rome) on his journey to Spain" (ibid. p 145).

CONCLUSION - FINISHING THE RACE
In reviewing 2Timothy 4 we might infer that before his final imprisonment and execution Paul had visited Greece and Asia Minor. So from 63 to 67AD, after his release from house arrest in Rome, Paul fitted in a tour of Spain, then the first Church areas he had established, then ended up in Rome again (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Bk 3,1 & 3). May I say that we have no solid proof for this attempt at creating a coherent picture of the final years of Paul's ministry. However, I am fully assured there are wonderful things to consider.

Let us look at this critical chapter in Paul's last letter to the ministry and churches. I suspect that it was written shortly before the winter, possibly in the autumn of 67AD. You'll see why as we go through this amazing chapter 4.

2Tim 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching (These sound like very strong and urgent words to one of Paul's most faithful friends). 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (What we have here is a prophecy that people would "live" in the Name of God and His Son, would be taught from the Bible, but would be hopelessly wrong - doctrinally - but would feel happy in their Christianity. Ironically, every group seems to think that everybody else is more in error than their own group). 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand (So Paul is telling us he has a deep sense that his time is nearly up). 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 9 Be diligent to come to me quickly (This is surely a statement conveying a sense of urgency); 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world (the lust for power and control), and has departed for Thessalonica (to take the brethren away from what Paul had taught them - Crescens (has been sent by Paul) to Galatia, Titus (has been asked to go to protect the Church) in Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me (What of Linus and Clement?) Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry (Mark seems to have been Paul's editor). 12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus (to protect the Church there). 13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come (This suggest that Paul may have been in Troas, had to leave hurriedly [under arrest?], and hence left some personal effects behind) - and the books, especially the parchments (i.e., the documents which need further editing and copying before Paul's life is taken?) 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm (by defaming and slandering what Paul had taught and done). May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. 16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them ("Forgive them for they don't know what they're doing!")
17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me (Another personal encouragement from Jesus Christ's appearance to Paul), so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion (apparently a reference to Nero). 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! 19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick. 21 Do your utmost to come before winter (hence the need for the cloak while Paul is in the cold and dank prison? Tradition says he was in the Mamertine Prison - a two-storey dungeon with access to the lower prison through a hole in the ceiling). Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens (the son of a Roman senator), Linus (first in the official lineage of the Popes, after Peter), and Claudia (possibly the daughter, engaged to Pudens, of the British king (Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus), and all the brethren (See Conybeare & Howson, The Life and Epistles of St Paul, Eerdmans; 1980; footnotes on p 780 give some tentative historical basis for these last few comments in v21).

"2Tim 1:15 This you know, that all those in Asia (i.e., the ministry?) have turned away from me among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes."

22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.